Ben Purser
The Perry Lakes Hawks today announced the re-signing of co-captain Ben Purser (200-F-90, college: Augusta) for the 2021 NBL1 West season.
The 200cm forward and defensive specialist has played for the Hawks every year since 2008, and in 2019 played his 300th SBL game while becoming the team's all-time leader in games played. He finished the 2019 season with 326 games and averages of 16.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 4.3 apg and 1.1 spg.
Between 2010 and 2013, Purser played a season of college basketball in the United States before having a two-year stint with the Perth Wildcats in the NBL as a development player.
In the State Basketball League (SBL), Purser helped guide the Hawks to grand finals in 2009 and 2011, where they fell short both times. He was appointed team captain in 2012 and went on to lead the Hawks to another grand final appearance in 2018, where he won his first championship while earning game MVP honours.
Known for his all-round game and defensive qualities, Purser was named in the SBL All-Defensive Five four years in a row between 2016 and 2019. He was also named SBL All-Star Five in 2018.
With the 2020 SBL season being cancelled due to COVID-19, Purser played for the Hawks in the West Coast Classic and helped them reach the grand final. In the grand final, he recorded a game-high 24 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and two steals before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter, as the Hawks lost 96-81 to the Warwick Senators. He appeared in all 15 WCC games, averaging 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.
In October 2020, the SBL was rebranded NBL1 West inline with the growing network of State Leagues in the eastern states. The inaugural NBL1 West season is set to get underway in April.
Tags : BEN PURSER, PERRY LAKES HAWKS, AUSTRALIAN BASKETBALL
